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Flt Sgt Copping's P-40 From The Egyptian Desert

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I should add that I found the pictures on Facebook this evening, if I can find the post again I will credit the photographer.
If it is the one found in 2012, it isn’t in “Time capsule” condition anymore, is it?

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Sadly I'm thinking it is the same plane as well, as all of the areas that are off/not right are the same areas that were most damaged or destroyed. As noted, the engine displayed below it looks identical to the condition and look of the engine in the aircraft when discovered. Also the props look like they're probably the originals, uncurled and pounded straight.

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If it is the same aeroplane then that is a historic artifact and poignant memorial permanently ruined and questions need to be answered.
Somewhat ironic that the original pictures were dismissed as 'a model' when this seems to have now been painted to depict a particularly poor one too.

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Whilst a very sad state of affairs regarding the aircraft, the fact that Flt Sgt Copping is still 'missing' and the family await rational explanations and answers to their not unreasonable questions across recent years should not be forgotten.

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Very sad indeed. I agree with Tangmere1940 above that the important thing is to try to find and test those bones we discussed in such detail earlier in this thread. In spite of pestering the UK authorities, and trying to follow up what the Italians originally found and what the Egyptians did or did not do, we got essentially nowhere at the time. Now a bit more clandestinity seems to have been perpetrated concerning the aircraft. I can't find any Facebook (or other for that matter) reference online, as Robert Edward mentioned in post 2304.

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Laurence, the photos were posted by Steven Phipps in a group named "Tiger Tanks, Armoured Vehicles & Places of Combat From WWII till Today"https://www.facebook.com/groups/5991...6/?pnref=story There's another photo from 11th November on the "SaharaSafaris Club" page.

"And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee!!!"

Jules Winnfield 1994

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While there are many unhappy about this display of the P40 I can see the logic.... there are many vehicles, tanks on display outside painted up and patched rather than displayed as found. In many places around the globe as suggested India is one where a public display of a wreck is not appreciated by senior figures. I understand that there is a museum display inside telling the story of the pilot and other items.

As Andy notes, it is a great shame that the remains of the pilot have not been found.

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Not so long ago the same situation existed in the car/auto restoration world: it is only recently that the fact of "it's only original once" has sunk in. But it depends on the type and its provenance. If this P-40 had an unexceptional story (subjective in itself), then maybe a restoration would have been justified. But this one was very different in many ways. The same comparison could be made between a car in original condition with Targa Florio history and a Hillman Avenger.

What does worry me is that this historic machine is being displayed outside and in less than ideal conditions. I can only hope that it finds itself indoors soon and that one day in the future some cutting-edge technology might be able to undo what has been done.

I'd imagine that there is minimal chance of finding its hapless pilot, so his memorial deserves a much more respectful display.

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The el-Alamein museum is very close to the shore of the Mediterranean. Climatic conditions make it necessary that the tanks and trucks displayed in the open get a thick layer of protective paint avery few years...

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Shame. I think we were all hoping for better. However I suspect the P40 was a prize the directors of the museum couldn't ignore for long, and as the years dragged on, this was always going to happen.

Regardless of the standards of the work done - and we shouldn't judge Egypt by our own standards, the aircraft is a monument to the war in the desert, and if one knows the story, to Copping himself. Perhaps at some point, the museum will acknowledge that.